Apparatus for the manufacture of gas



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H. BURGESS. APPARATUS POR THE MANUPAGTURE oF-GAS. No. 440,004. Patented Nov. 4, 1800.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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H. BURGBSS. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUPAGTURE OPGAS.

Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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HUGH BURGESS,HOF ARDMORE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM RENNYSON, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,004, dated November 4,1890.

Application filed March 27, 1890. Serial No. 3451607. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HUGH BURGESS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Ardmore, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein 'to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of gas by the mutual decomposition of water and a suitable hydrocarbon; and it has for its objects to economize fuel in the generation of the gas, to provide for the generation at pleasure of different qualities of combustible gases, so that the same may be used for heating or illuminating purposes, and to furnish an apparatus which may be constructed at moderate cost, readily and inexpensively repaired, and conveniently operated, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The above-mentioned objects are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a vertical sectional view of my invention in one of its forms. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal sectional View taken on the line mc of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a partial side and sectional View of one of the retorts forming part of my invention. Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional view showing a modification of my invention, in which the gas-generating retorts are superimposed or placed above the superheater.

Referring to the drawings, the letterA indicates a structure of masonry or other material constituting the walls of the furnace of my improved gas-generator.

B indicates the re or combustion chamber of the furnace, which is provided with a grate or horizontal diaphragm C, of refractory material, having vertical passages D for the admission of air to the fire-chamber, in order to support the combustion of fuel therein. The fuel may consist of any suitable solid fuel, such as coal; but I prefer to employ a iiuid hydrocarbon or gas for the purpose.

The letter E indicates the feed-opening of the furnace, through which the`fuel may be supplied either in a duid or solid condition, and F indicates an injector, by means of which the liquid hydrocarbon may be injected into the furnace-opening when liquid fuel is to be used. y Above the fire or combustion chamber is a heating-chamber G, in which are located two concentric annular cylinders H I, constructed of metal, the inner cylinder at its lower end fitting over the throat of the fire or combus` tion chamber, and the outer cylinder being set around said inner cylinder, as shown particularly in Fig. l. The outer cylinder is of such diameter relatively to the inner cylinder as to leave an annular space between the two for the passage of the products of combustion from the re or combustion chamber, as will be more fully hereinafter described. The lower end of the inner cylinder is set below the lower end of the outer cylinder, and the upper end of the inner cylinder is set below the upper end of the said cylinder, the outer cylinder bein g less in diameter than the chamber in which it is located, so as to form concentric passages for the products of combustion from the [ire-chamber to the exit-flue K, which leads centrally from the top or dome of the furnace.

In order to deflect or reverberate the flames and products of combustion and cause the same to pass through the fines between and around the cylinders H and I, the dome or upper part of the furnace is provided with lues I', leading from the upper portion of the chamber at its sides, tothe exit flue K, above mentioned, and as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The inner annular cylinder is connected witha steam-induction pipe M, leading from a suitable steam-generator, and isalso connected near its lower end with the outer annular .cylinder by means of an elbow-pipe N, into which leads an oil=induction pipe P, by means of which steam anda suitable hydrocarbon may be supplied together to the outer annular cyl- IOO annular cylinder to a holder or to suitable points of consumption.

In practice I prefer to make the gas-generating cylinder in the form of a series of segmental cellular sections, having separate steam-inlets N leading thereto, and independent gas -outlets G', connecting with a common main R, and I prefer to construct said outer cylinder or the segmental sections constituting the same with internal partitions S, extending throughout the same vertically, as shown, and connected alternately at opposite ends so as to form tortuous passages for the vapor and steam to be decomposed for the manufacture of the gas. The partitions, however, it is evident, may be horizontally or otherwise arranged so as to accomplish the same obj ect, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

When the gas-generating cylinder is made in sections, each is provided with an inde-v pendent connection with the steam-generatin g cylinder and With independent oil or iiuid hydrocarbon supply and steam pipe N P, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, so that different grades of hydrocarbon may be supplied to each, with steam under diiferent conditions, so as to generate different qualities of gas in the respective sections, which may be drawn off and used separately for fuel-gas or rich illuminating-gas, or commingled so as to produce a gas of any desired candle-power.

The diaphragms in the gas-generating cylinder may be so arranged as to form passages of different area, so as to increase their area as the gas-vapor expands in volume,thereby preventing pressure in the retort and the consequent deposition of carbon from the vapor in a solid form, which would result in a waste of material and the collection of solid deposits, which latter would clog the passages and render the apparatus ineflicient, as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

In order to give an extended heating-surface to the steam, the inner cylinder may be provided with internal diaphragms,the spaces of which are alternately connected,as shown, so that the steam may be thoroughly superheated before passing to the gas-generating cylinder or sections.

As constructed, it will be perceived that the outer or upper annular cylinder or sections constitute a retort or series of retorts in which the decomposition of the steam and hydrocarbon is effected, and when the outer or upper cylinder is constructed in sections gases of various grades may be generated and used separately or commingled.

Theoperation of my invention is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, fire being started in the combustion-chamber of the furnace, and sustained by suitable supplies of fuel either fluid or solid, the products of combustion pass up through the interior of the inner annular cylinder, then down between the outer walls thereof and the walls of the concentric annular outer cylinder, and up through the space surrounding said cylinder to the. eduction-iiue lo, being reverberated by the dome of the furnace, so as to insure the effective heating of the cylinders and utilize, to the greatest possible extent, the heat of the escaping products of combustion. The steam being supplied to the inner cylinder and passing through the same becomes superheated, and in this condition passes to the outer cylinder or section thereof, meeting on its way an iniiow of iiuid hydrocarbon, which,in connection with the steam, is decomposed in the outer cylinder, generating a xed gas the constituents of which are hydrogen, carbonio oxide, and carbureted hydrogen gases in varying proportions, all of which are inflammable, and which may be used separately or commingled to suit the different requirements of heating and illuminating purposes.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the steam is superheated in the lower cylinder II, and p'asses upward through the passages N into the gas-generating retort or series of retorts I, in conjunction with an iniiow of oil supplied through the pipe P.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a furnace, a steamsuperheater in the furnace, a gas-generatingv chamber also located therein, this gas-generating chamber being constructed of two or more cellular retorts, each of which is provided with a gas-outlet and connected to the steam-superheater, and oil-pipes communicating with the retorts at the point. of connection with the superheater, as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, in a gas-generating apparatus, of an inner annular cylinder, and an outer cylinder composed of hollow cellular segments, each connected with the inner cylinder, and each provided with liquid-hydrocarbon inlets at the points of connection, and gas-outlets leading to a common main, whereby gases of different grades may be generated and commingled for use, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGH BURGES'S.

Witnesses:

R. S. PoiNsET'r, G. W. RIDGWAY.

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